Gail Margaret (Archibald) Purkis

November 27, 1943 – January 8, 2026

Gail (Archibald) Purkis, 82, passed away on January 8, 2026, at the Valley Regional Hospital in Kentville.

Born in Wolfville, Nova Scotia, Gail eventually settled in Halifax, where she built a life filled with love, joy, and cherished memories. She was married to the late Dr. Ian Purkis and the proud mother of her son, Peter Michael Laurie Purkis (Dina), stepmother to Kathy McKay (Michael) and doting grandmother to her beloved Sonja Naugler.

In addition to her son and granddaughter, Gail adored her sister Wendy Tupper (Gary) as well as their children, Terri Mozingo and Sean Tupper, and Wendy’s grandchildren, Ella, Garrett, Peyton, Regan and Avery.

Gail’s desire to help those in need led her to study nursing at the Victoria General. After graduating, she dedicated years of service as an OR and neurology nurse. Her love of cooking also led her to start a side catering business. Yet, even after she left nursing to be a stay-at-home mom, she ran the volunteer Gift shop at the Camp Hill Memorial, volunteered with the VON and with the Alzheimer’s society. 20 years after she left nursing, Gail renewed her certifications and went back to nursing to work directly with dementia patients. In later years, Gail loved spending time in the den on Smith Street in Halifax doing the New York Times Crossword puzzles, reading books for her two book clubs, while listening to music and to the news on CBC.

This might lead you to believe she led a life of limited adventure, but while raising their son Pete, Gail and husband Ian traveled the world. From China to Australia and beyond, Gail and Peter were happy companions as Dr. Purkis chased medical knowledge, eventually returning to Halifax to introduce acupuncture into the management of pain where, in 1972, he founded the pain management unit (known as the pain clinic), which he led until 1988.

For the last 18 months of her life, Gail was living at Mountains & Meadows in Bridgetown, Nova Scotia. Gail’s son, Peter, would like to express his heartfelt thanks to Gail’s sister Wendy for everything she did for Gail. It brought him such comfort knowing the love and care Gail was surrounded with because of you.

The Purkis and Tupper family would also like to express sincere thanks to the staff at Mountains & Meadows nursing home for their care, and to one special emergency room nurse at the Valley Regional Hospital, Abby. Gail was a nurse and she left this world attended by one of the best. Thank you.

For donations in Gail’s memory, please consider the Canadian Cancer Society, or a charity of your choice.

An announcement for the exact date of Gail’s celebration of life—to be held in Halifax in late spring—will be made on Facebook and on this site.